### ODT Online Thu, 30 May 2013$358m vote of confidence
By Vaughan Elder
The figure the university has earmarked for construction, from last year until 2020, was revealed in the university’s priority development plan, obtained by the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act. The plan includes 22 projects, 20 of which are in Dunedin. The university declined to reveal the budgets for individual projects, citing commercial sensitivity, but put the total budget for the work at $357.8 million.

University chief operating officer John Patrick said the projects were included in the plan for a number of reasons, including to accommodate growth, to improve building layout and efficiency and health and safety.

Asked how the university could afford such a large amount of work, given what it had previously described as a “difficult” funding environment, Mr Patrick said: “The University of Otago has a fiscal strategy that is designed to provide funding for capital development.”Read more

85 responses to “University of Otago development plans”

Had an interesting conversation with a not long ago grad of Otago.
His thoughts are it will fail, the top academics came for the party life. Now with the way they are stifling that the top ones aren’t coming and in fact the Otago rating could be slipping because of it.
I mean what is there without the party town?
Freezing in winter.
Paying huge rents……..

Inter-university competition is HOT – Otago will be looking hard at the China/Asian connection for salvation… sciences, medicine/health sciences and professional schools…. (less time for partying if you’re a swot)

Sorry Syd, Dunedin/Otago is not the education capital of New Zealand. Where have you been ?

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### ODT Online Wed, 5 Jun 2013Large rate-take hit for DCC
By Vaughan Elder
Dunedin City Council misses out on ”millions” in rates each year, with the city having the highest percentage of non-rateable assets of New Zealand’s main centres, council figures show. A total of $1.932 billion (9.4%) of the city’s total capital value of $20.55 billion is non-rateable, according to the figures. The University of Otago, which does not pay general rates, is the biggest organisation on the list, with $632.27 million worth of capital value assets in Dunedin: 3.1% of the city’s total. The university continues to buy commercial property in the city. It bought the 128-room LivingSpace hotel in April for $6.75 million, the latest example to hit the city in the pocket. The purchase reduced the council’s income from the property by $17,123 a year. Schools and kindergartens (1.9%) and council property (1.6%) make up the next largest proportion of the total figure, the figures show. Most non-rateable properties pay rates only for water, drainage and other services. A small proportion also pay 50% of general rates. Cr Syd Brown, chairman of the council’s finance, strategy and development committee, said the loss in rate take was a ”cost” of being the ”education capital” of New Zealand.Read more

### ODT Online Fri, 14 Jun 2013Uni’s efforts lacking: minister
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago needs to target international students more ”aggressively” after having the largest decline in international numbers of any New Zealand university this year, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce says. Mr Joyce also took issue with comments by university pro-vice-chancellor, international, Prof Sarah Todd, who earlier this week was critical of the organisation set up by the Government to advertise New Zealand to international students.
This comes as the university this week voted to increase fees, despite blaming the cost of study as one of the reasons behind a 10.1% fall in full fee-paying international equivalent-full-time students (Efts) as at the end of April compared with the corresponding time last year.
Mr Joyce said when contacted that according to yet-to-be released data, overall international student numbers – a different measurement than Efts – in the tertiary education sector were up in the year to April compared with last year. The same data showed [University of Otago] had the largest decline of any university in the country and Mr Joyce hoped this would encourage the university to have a look at what it was doing to attract students.Read more

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### ODT Online Fri, 14 Jun 2013‘Financial pressure’ due to fall in Efts
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago’s budget review for this year has proved ”challenging” in the face of an estimated more than $5 million drop in funding due to falling student numbers. Despite the decline in student numbers, ”one-off income gains”, including $3.5 million in insurance recoveries for work done repairing buildings in Christchurch, meant the university’s operating surplus for the year was expected to be up on previous expectations.
The university is now estimating that 18,577 equivalent full-time students (Efts) will enrol this year, which is 2.87% down on expectations at the start of the year and 1.97% down on the 18,951 enrolled last year.Read more

A slight setback to university budgets if it happens. It should happen.

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### ODT Online Fri, 4 Apr 2014Lease agreement sought
By Eileen Goodwin
The Southern District Health Board wants the University of Otago to sign a lease for the use of space in the Dunedin Hospital complex. Chief executive Carole Heatly told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the board sought the ability to obtain ”market value rents” from the university.Read more

“With plans for a $100 million waterfront hotel in Dunedin having fallen over and the university seemingly no longer interested, Port Otago was now ”free to consider other options for the site”. […] The wharf was used ”every day” and was not in need of maintenance. –Geoff Plunket, Port Otago Ltd

### ODT Online Wed, 21 May 2014Aquarium plan slips down list
By Vaughan Elder
A University of Otago plan to build an aquarium in Dunedin’s inner harbour has been put on hold in favour of other projects. Sciences pro-vice-chancellor Prof Keith Hunter said it had been eyeing up ”Shed G” in Birch St – owned by Port Otago subsidiary company Chalmers Property – as the ideal site for a new aquarium. However, ”serious issues” over the ”useful life” of the wharf, whether it needed maintenance and who would pay for it, went against using the site, he said.Read more

University of Otago – Media Release
Uni news: University announces long-term development plans

Friday, 4 July 2014

The University of Otago Council has approved a list of building developments with an approximate value of $650 million that will further cement the University as a leading force in teaching, learning and research within New Zealand.

The list and information about the projects was presented to a full St David Lecture Theatre at the Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne’s Staff Forum today.

In a presentation to staff at the forum, the University’s Chief Operating Officer John Patrick revealed details of the projects listed on the University’s Priority Development Plan which will be evaluated for construction progressively over the next 15 years. The University Council approved the plan in principle at its last meeting in June.

The plan includes the following projects (in order of priority):

● A new Dental School for New Zealand to replace ageing facilities. This recognises the importance of Otago’s Dental School as the only tertiary training facility for dentists in New Zealand.
● A major renovation in the Science Precinct involving significant redevelopment of the multi-storeyed Science 1 and II buildings on the west side of the Dunedin campus. This includes the construction of new teaching and research laboratories.
● A major upgrade of research project facilities mainly for Health Sciences in Dunedin.
● The construction of teaching, learning and research space at the Portobello aquarium as a medium term replacement for space lost due to the closure of an earthquake-prone building at that facility.
● A new Arts Building, replacing the older multi-storey concrete building in Albany Street. The aim is to develop a more coordinated and functional Humanities Precinct. Related to this is the replacement of the Property Services building in Albany Street to free the site for the Humanities Precinct.
● A new Biomedical Research building, concentrating research that is currently spread throughout the Dunedin campus in the one development in the south campus area – which is south of the Museum Reserve where medical school facilities are mostly concentrated.
● A new Marine Science teaching facility and aquarium, preferably in the harbour basin area.
● A new Music facility, including a new Centre of Performing Arts, to be developed in the east precinct near the existing music studio in Albany Street east.
● New facilities and additional space for the Department of Botany.
● A new research facility in the Christchurch Health Precinct for the University of Otago Christchurch. The timing of this project is dependent on the development timeline of that precinct.
● The redevelopment of the former Unipol building in Anzac Avenue.
● A new student and academic services hub to be built in the area of the Union Lawn, in the heart of the Dunedin campus. The plan is to concentrate services and provide an opportunity for student-related retail development and social spaces in this important area.
● A number of landscaping projects are detailed on the Plan. These include the landscaping of Castle Street, from Dundas Street to St David Street, the landscaping of Castle Walk on the west side of the Leith opposite the Clocktower and also Union Street from the Staff Club to University College, including renovation of the Union Street footbridge and the immediate area to the north of the Clocktower building.

A number of health and safety projects are also included on the Plan. These have a high priority and include the following.

● Improvements to access and safety in the Commerce Building, including a new entrance directly into the atrium, removal of the existing external stairs, new internal stairs providing access from the atrium and replacement of the atrium roof.
● The completion of the refurbishment of the University of Otago, Wellington, facilities, and some further seismic strengthening.
● A continuation of the seismic strengthening work and improvements to fire safety resulting from building seismic assessments completed over the last two years.

The Plan also includes reference to a number of major maintenance projects, such as refurbishment of buildings in the historic precinct, including the Clocktower.

“The intention of the Priority Development Plan is to show the University community, the public, and contractors, what we will be looking at, and focussing on, over the medium term when it comes to our built environments,” Professor Hayne says.

“We want to improve what is already a first-class experience for students, for teachers and for researchers and we want the campus to be enjoyed by the communities in which we live.”

“We want to improve what is already a first-class experience for students, for teachers and for researchers and we want the campus to be enjoyed by the communities in which we live.

“Many of these projects were signalled in the Campus Master Plan released in 2010. This was a strategic and guiding vision of how the University should be developed in coming decades across all its three campuses and this plan follows the guiding principles in that strategic document,” she says.

Professor Hayne says the Council agreed to the priority development plan and projects within it “in principle”. However, the plan is a living document and other projects may yet be added, or removed, as situations and needs change.

Mr Patrick says the estimated cost of the projects in the plan came to $649.9 million. This figure includes projects that have already been approved or are under construction, such as the redevelopment of St David II for the Department of Applied Science, new space for Food Science in the Gregory Building and the University’s share of the costs of the enhancement of the Clocktower precinct as part of the Leith Flood Protection Scheme.

“While we do have cost estimates for each project on the Plan, we do not intend to disclose these because some projects have not been sufficiently defined and the costs are commercially sensitive.”

Mr Patrick adds that the Priority Development Plan has been prepared with the intention that it is funded without resorting to large-scale borrowing.

“Currently the University does not use debt to fund capital projects, but looking ahead, may want to do this,” Mr Patrick says.

“Funding decisions will be made as we progress planning for these projects,” he says.

### ODT Online Sat, 5 Jul 2014Uni to spark building boom
By Vaughan Elder
Dunedin’s largest construction boom in decades is about to begin, with the University of Otago revealing plans to spend $650 million upgrading its campuses. The university for the first time yesterday released the schedule and total cost of its massive 15-year ”priority development plan”, which involves more than 20 projects and is expected to create ”hundreds” of jobs for Dunedin.Read more + Fullsize Graphic

### radionz.co.nz Updated at 3:52 pm todayRest of Dunedin urged to catch up with uni
By Ian Telfer, Otago Reporter
Dunedin’s Chamber of Commerce says the rest of the city needs to lift its game to match the growth of Otago University. The university is to spend $650 million on new buildings over 15 years. The Priority Development Plan of 23 major projects includes new centres for humanities and the performing arts and a new aquarium. The chief executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, John Christie, says the plan will change the face of large parts of the central city. He says it should also challenge other parts of the community to find different growth opportunities.Read more

Good news, but I will reserve my verdict on the “100s of jobs” claim. What that actually means is equivalent hours of work for existing workers, not the creation of new positions. Exactly like the stadium, there was little extra employment, just a busier than usual workload. Remember also that, in the case of the stadium, the majority of work was awarded to companies from outside of Dunedin. Good news, but let’s see how the reality pans out first.

For how long can the University of Otago fend of the competition of other universities who are increasingly well-endowed with private funding?

ODT in its usual bubble of inanity.

The money invested in the city represents more than three stadiums or six proposed waterfront hotels. (ODT)

### ODT Online Tue, 8 Jul 2014Editorial: Building on varsity’s success
OPINION Details of the University of Otago’s extensive construction plans, revealed last Friday, are exciting for Dunedin and further underline its fundamental importance to the city’s economy. There are plans to spend $650 million over 15 years on more than 20 priority projects […] The total spend means Dunedin will experience its largest construction boom in decades – since the likes of Cargill House, Wickliffe House, the Forsyth Barr building, Dunedin Hospital and others were built in the 1960s and 1970s.Read more

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### ODT Online Tue, 22 Apr 2014Dental school plan ‘back on track’
By John Gibb
The University of Otago is taking steps to get its proposed school of dentistry building project, worth more than $50 million, ”back on track”. […] The $50 million to $100 million project will replace the current school building, which former school dean Prof Greg Seymour has said did not meet ”the requirements of the 21st century”.Read more

Extreme cynicism for the ‘jobs’ claim, just another case of a lot of money washing out of Dunedin to people largely based elsewhere.

The report’s release comes after the university last week unveiled a $650 million building programme, which has been tipped to create hundreds of jobs in Dunedin.

### ODT Online Wed, 9 Jul 2014University’s value to city highlighted
By Vaughan Elder
The massive contribution University of Otago makes to Dunedin has been highlighted in a report showing it boosted the city’s economy by $820 million last year. […] The university’s annual economic impact report, tabled at yesterday’s council meeting, said the university had a ”far-reaching” impact across many sectors of the economy.Read more

Now the university plans to disfigure the iconic Sayers Building for labs!!! Ridiculous.

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### ODT Online Sat, 12 Jul 2014Medical library may make way for lab
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago is planning to relocate its animal testing labs, after the spread of parasitic worms. The university yesterday confirmed it was investigating moving the labs to Sayers Building, where its medical library is housed, and an advertisement for a fixed-term role managing the relocation of the library to an ”interim site” was posted on the university website. The plan has angered medical students, who fear they will lose access to the only study space in the university’s health precinct.Read more

And they wonder why numbers of international students are declining… If you were expected to pay international fees plus costs would send your kids to a glorified booze barn? Call me old fashioned but I still associate university with sobriety and gravitas.

Tonight there’s more than enough evidence of the booze barn… O Week presumes and it’s a relatively warm calm night. Emergency services must be thrilled about the mess to come later tonight and in the early morning.

The BS artists and wankers of the university and secondary schools, and hell knows who else from the lowlife brigades.

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### ODT Online Tue, 15 Jul 2014Burning desires fulfilled in secret
By Timothy Brown
Castle St couch-burners are moving from the streets and into the shadows, residents of the street say. With the potential for students to be kicked out of the University of Otago if caught lighting fires, revellers have taken to lighting them out of view, in driveways and backyards. The disorder came to a head during the weekend, as police arrested two people for disorderly behaviour and the Fire Service attended seven couch fires on Saturday night and Sunday morning, including two lit close to homes.
a href=”http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/309336/burning-desires-fulfilled-secret”>Read more

### dunedintv.co.nz July 15, 2014 – 6:12pmFurniture fire fracas flares up
Tertiary students are back in Dunedin this week, for the start of the second semester. And emergency services have seen the return of furniture fires in the residential area around campus. It’s not unusual for couch fires to plague the city, but firefighters say a worrying trend is emerging.Video

$650 million worth of development plans announced one week, the next a call for frugality made to your staff. Hypocrisy Haaar-lean.

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### ODT Online Wed, 16 Jul 2014‘Do more with less’ staff told
By Vaughan Elder
University of Otago staff are being asked to find ways to do ”more with less” as the institution expects tight times to continue. Vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne made the comments during an internal briefing at a recent staff forum, which was reported on the university’s Otago Bulletin website.Read more

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### Otago Bulletin: Uni News Thursday, 10 July 2014Vice-Chancellor updates staff
Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne’s recent staff forum was an opportunity to share Otago’s achievements and also to ask staff for help. Professor Hayne spoke to a full St David Lecture Theatre, updating staff on a number of University matters, including recent successes, threats and opportunities. The briefing was live streamed to staff in Christchurch, Wellington, Invercargill and Auckland. “Part of my job as Vice-Chancellor is to sell the University of Otago. I share our great achievements with prospective students and their families, the Government, funding agencies and people overseas. But I have probably neglected to share them with those who matter most – those who actually work at the University of Otago and make such a fine contribution.”Read more

No university council members asked any questions after the report outlining the university’s budget for next year was tabled.

### ODT Online Wed, 26 Nov 2014Varsity cut backs required to fund building
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago is facing its toughest financial times in more than a decade, with significant savings needed to fund its more than $600 million building programme. These savings could include job cuts, chief financial officer Sharon van Turnhout said after yesterday’s council meeting.Read more

“The university would prefer to take extra time to ensure planning, design, estimates and approvals are carried out to a very high standard.” –Barry MacKay, Property Services

### ODT Online Wed, 17 Dec 2014University delays building
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago has delayed the start of construction on two of the largest buildings in its more than $600 million building programme.
Construction on both the replacement dental school – previously estimated to cost between $50 million and $100 million – and science precinct redevelopment were scheduled to begin next year, but have now been delayed until early 2016, dependent on completion of designs, and approval by the university council.Read more

● It was possible the Portobello Aquarium and Commerce Building redevelopment would start next year.

Logic Group not in university picture – grandstanding by Sam Cadden (remember Logic Group tried to muscle in on DCC’s Taieri Aquatic Centre project…. insodoing exposing potential conflicts of interest aplenty through Shaun Pont).

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### ODT Online Wed, 27 May 2015University work hailed as positive
By Carla Green
Two university development projects with budgets totalling $182 million will be “very positive” for the construction industry, a Dunedin contractor says. The projects are an “upgrade and extension” of the School of Dentistry and a new laboratory for the chemistry (science 1) building. The project budgets were revealed for the first time in a university capital development committee agenda this week.Read more

### ODT Online Tue, 1 Sep 2015Hazardous building costs varsity
By David Loughrey
A guilty plea by the University of Otago in a health and safety case has led to $60,000 reparation for a woman left permanently disabled, and a promise to fix a building the Dunedin District Court heard had caused serious injury. The court heard yesterday the university had not dealt properly with a problem that had resulted in more than 12 serious injuries in the Commerce Building over about 17 years.Read more

### dunedintv.co.nz Thu, 24 Sep 2015Christchurch firm awarded contract for Otago university redevelopment project
The multi-million dollar revamp of a major science building is getting started at the University of Otago. A Christchurch firm has been awarded the contract for the $56m redevelopment. But university staff are confident the local construction sector will benefit.Ch39 Link

Of-bloody-course an out of town company got the job. Dunedin only employs its own when it’s a company belonging to a Tartan. Or a councillor – remember Bill Acklin, struggling purveyor of entertainment?

I ran into a guy in the weekend who owns a business supplying services to the Dunedin construction industry. He was really angry about this decision and I’m picking from his reaction that many others like him who have invested in Dunedin will be equally unhappy. But should we be surprised really?

A case of who knows who — or has the university council moved to ensure Property Services is utilising an open tendering system rather than relying on their old favourites? (protectionism)
Nah, life is never that simple.

I disagree, to a certain extent.
Paying NZ companies that employ NZ workers is worth paying a bit extra for because it keeps our money at home, keeps it going around in the local economy, paying GST to the government with every spend.
Keeping Dunedin money in Dunedin is worth a bit more too, keeping local people in jobs taking home pay packets that they spend largely in local businesses – well, more than out-of-town workers spend in Dunedin shops and cafes, and donate to local causes such as Physio Pool.
The best price isn’t always the best value. Sometimes there’s a totally honourable bigger picture that needs to be considered.

Hype, that certainly does pertain in the local heritage building industry sector and it keeps those practitioner firms networked, technically astute and very competitive compared to outsiders – as you would expect.

photonz, I was thinking not so much of individual getting a new home built, nor even of small businesses. They may have no choice other than to pare costs to the minimum. But where it is rates- and tax-payer money being spent, I expect consideration to be given to regional and national best interests. The apparent increase in cost, unless it is a huge percentage, is not so much paying too much, as investing in ourselves instead of simply sending money away. Both ways we get the goods, but the investment way we get ongoing benefit. Probably cheaper than WINZ pay-outs for more people out of work. Investment in keeping jobs used to be one of government departments’ “low profile” functions, it made them look inefficient so Roger Douglas et al played that up, without understanding the ramifications of apparent efficiency.
And before someone says “It used to take X weeks to get a phone connected” – same workers, same lines, same phones so what changed? There was nothing to stop government from taking its heads of departments into a quiet room and giving them a solid rark-up about not pissing around: “You want to keep your jobs? You don’t want to be privatised and end up delivering junk mail? Well get your departmental dags rattling, we don’t want any more complaints like this box full.”

It is unfortunate if decent men’s and women’s jobs are at risk because of dislike of the person who owns the company.
Those men’s and women’s pay packets would have circulated around Dunedin, keeping more people in business, even though the rich a-hole business owner takes his money and heads off to Wanaka or wherever the a-hole covens convene these days.

### ODT Online Tue, 29 Sep 2015$56m upgrade starting soon
By Carla Green
A $56million renovation of the University of Otago’s chemistry building will start by the end of this month, the university says. […] Christchurch construction company Leighs Construction will lead the project, although the work “will also involve Dunedin builders and sub-contractors”, a university press release says.Read more

As a colleague made very clear the other day, Leighs coming in to scoop the university science and dental school work will also roll into the hospital redevelopment project – meaning the likely good-bye to Naylors and its Dunedin base. More skilled jobs and families lost from Dunedin. Have a think about Barry MacKay in all this – and the likes of Stuart McLauchlan/co-accountants, they are the people to blame.

WorkSafe is working with both DCC and the university to make sure work being done would solve the problems at the building.

### ODT Online Sat, 3 Oct 2015$15m fix for commerce building
By David Loughrey
The University of Otago has confirmed a $15 million refit of its commerce building, the site of numerous injuries that resulted in a $60,000 payout and an apology from the university after a recent court case. The university said yesterday until the refit was complete, its property services department was considering ways to permanently restrict access to risky areas of the building.Read more

This begs a few questions of the university. How could a problem this serious take so many years to fix? How could a dozen or more people be seriously injured before action was taken? What was the university’s HR department doing all this time – surely it has health and safety personnel and a hazards register? And how can Worksafe pass it off as a building issue? This is an extraordinarily serious and long-term catalogue of errors that has caused at least one person permanent, avoidable injury. And in the business school? Isn’t that supposed to be where best practice is taught and should be exemplified? A shameful and inexcusable failure to act.

The University of Otago had received 82 complaints – 12 involving serious injuries – since the building was completed in 1993.

### ODT Online Thu, 3 Mar 2016$120k safety fix for Commerce Building
By David Loughrey
The University of Otago has laid carpet and resurfaced slippery steps in its Commerce Building atrium in a $120,000 temporary fix, and released designs of its promised $15 million redevelopment. The new carpet is “marinegrade”, as the building is still prone to leaks, but the university says the main upgrade – hoped to begin in the middle of the year – will ensure the roof is weather-tight.Read more + Images

█ Major Commerce Building redevelopment project starts mid year. Preliminary designs by Mason and Wales Architects show changes on levels two and three, and a new roof.

### ODT Online Wed, 20 Jan 2016Students gone, uni bustles with life
By Vaughan Elder
The students might be away, but the University of Otago is a hive of activity as about 150 contractors work on construction projects. Among them is the $126 million redevelopment of the Dental School in Great King St, with the university preparing to demolish the building’s west wing.Read more

The [Arts] building – built in 1969 – was expected to be replaced in 2019 as part of the university’s widespread construction plan.

### ODT Online Sat, 26 Dec 2015‘Cancer’ affected balconies being removed
By Carla Green
The University of Otago’s arts building is shedding its balconies. In 2013, the university announced the building had decaying concrete – “concrete cancer”. […] Earlier this month, the university started taking down balustrades and balconies on the west face of the building.Read more

### ODT Online Sat, 30 Jan 2016Making way
Contractors demolish the Barningham Building behind the University of Otago School of Dentistry complex on Thursday. The two-storey building was once part of the larger Victoria Foundry of Barningham and Co, and was also the previous home of the university’s Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit. The unit is now located in part of the Logan Park Annexe, near the University Oval.Read more

“Little archaeology has been undertaken in this part of town so the results will be important in understanding the settlement of Dunedin.”
–Matt Schmidt, Otago Southland Regional Archaeologist, Heritage New Zealand

### ODT Online Fri, 5 Feb 2016Demolition unearths Dunedin’s past
By John Lewis
Remnants of Dunedin life in the 1860s are being uncovered by heavy machinery and archaeologists this week following the demolition of the Barningham Building at the University of Otago Dental School. […] The west wing of the Walsh Building (Dental School) will also be removed, and a 8000sq m clinical building – as well as an 1800sq m atrium and social space linking to the Walsh Building – will be constructed on the footprint.Read more

Another blot on the campus streetscape – $6.8M for a carpark.
Academically, clever.

### ODT Online Fri, 18 Mar 2016University turning site into car park
By Vaughan Elder
The University of Otago is going to spend $2.75 million demolishing buildings on the former Wickliffe Press site in North Dunedin and put a car park in their place. The latest university council agenda said construction of the 152-vehicle street-level car park on the site, which has frontages in Clyde, Albany and Forth Sts, was planned for between May and September.Read more

The facility would be used until a new aquarium, planned for the upper harbour, was built …. “yet this is still many years away.”

### ODT Online Mon, 21 Mar 2016Aquarium to be demolished
By Vaughan Elder
Portobello aquarium is to be demolished to make way for a $3.5 million temporary teaching and research facility. The aquarium was closed to the public in 2012 and slated for demolition after it was found to be less than 15% of the new-building standard for earthquake strength. University property services director Barry MacKay said the $3.525 million project involved demolishing the old building later this year and building a temporary teaching and research facility in its place.Read more

Music recording studios remain in use and operational.
“Teaching of drums, band performance recordings and practices are still run at the Albany St facility.”

Wed, 13 Apr 2016ODT: Asbestos spurs university to move classes
Some classes have been moved from the University of Otago’s multimillion-dollar Albany St recording studio after “faster than expected deterioration” of parts of the asbestos-riddled building. The former Radio New Zealand recording studio – with a capital value of $1.41 million – is used by students and Dunedin musicians and has a large collection of recording equipment, including a mixing desk believed to be worth close to $1 million.

Wed, 11 May 2016ODT: University to build animal research lab
The University of Otago has announced plans for a $50 million, five-storey animal research facility. Its site is not being disclosed at this stage. The 3936sq m building, to be constructed somewhere on the university’s South Campus, will be used in the health and biomedical fields.

“The $50 million cost of the building could be spent to develop further alternatives to animal research.” –Ric Odom, SPCA New Zealand

Sat, 14 May 2016ODT: Animal research centre opposed
The SPCA says it has “grave concerns” about the University of Otago’s plan to build a $50 million animal research centre and is not ruling out taking further action. On Wednesday, the university announced plans to build a five-storey animal research centre at an undisclosed location on its [south] campus. SPCA New Zealand chief executive Ric Odom said the SPCA opposed any practice that caused animals unnecessary pain and suffering, “including animal research”.

█ Work on the 3936sq m building is expected to start in August and be completed in February 2018.

Alternatives to animal research have progressed enormously since the days when even school children dissected animals in Biology class. What with knowledge already gained over the years from in vivo experimentation, and the capacity of computer programs to run complex models, and simulations of realistic hands-on learning, the destructive use of animals in research labs has gone down to very very little and ethics approval isn’t given lightly.

Lab animals have great lives, compared with most wild, farmed and many pet animals – again the ethics committees make sure of that, and before then the animal techs were in general compassionate and like the good farmers intent on giving the animals in their care the best possible lives even though they were not going to die in freedom of old age.
Much animal research now is non-destructive, being investigations of behavioural patterns, nutrition and gene transmission.

I would like to see the opponents of this switch to the worst animal cruelty first. SPCA seldom prosecutes for cruelty to animals, it’s a funding issue. At a guess it’s at root a law issue – if animal protection laws were stronger and clearer it wouldn’t cost so much. If people who care donated more money SPCA could do more.

Compared to farms including poultry farms the projected OU animal research facility is small beer. A click-bait indignation attractant. It must be a relief to those whose treatment of animals in their care is truly vile, seeing people’s attention diverted this way.

Protest includes mass leaflet drop and rally outside the current animal lab, the Hercus Building, on Saturday.

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 19:30, October 27 2016Activists cover wall in 11,000 hearts to protest $50 million animal laboratory
By Hamish McNeilly
Activists have covered the wall of a new animal research lab at the University of Otago with more than 11,000 paper hearts. Tara Jackson, of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, said the group stapled 11,358 hearts – one for every animal killed in testing at the Dunedin tertiary institution last year – from 4am on Thursday. Those animals included cows, pigs, sheep, rats, mice, guinea pigs, possums, she said.Read more + Video

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### channel39.co.nz Thu, 27 Oct 2016Protesters oppose university’s $50m animal research lab
People opposed to testing on animals have placed more than 11,000 paper hearts on a wall at the University of Otago. The Dunedin campus site is where the university is building a new $50m animal research laboratory. And the protest action even attracted opponents from out of town.Ch39 Link

TEDx Talks Published on Oct 24, 2014Animal rights — birth of an activist | Simone Reyes | TEDxOrangeCoast
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Simone Reyes shares with passion her combat for animal rights and elaborates how we can all be activist in our own right.

She says: “I may be a woman, a friend, a daughter, a partner, or an executive, but I will always be an activist first”

Credit: all media are creative common or belong to the speaker

Simone Reyes was the breakout star of Oxygen’s reality tv show “Running Russell Simmons” and became an overnight hero in the animal rights community.
She has been entertainment mogul Russell Simmons’ right hand woman since graduating high school and has often been affectionately referred to as the “Boss” by Simmons himself. Recently PETA ‘s Animal Rahat Sanctuary in India was officially given a new name “Simone’s Place” in honor of Simone’s tireless dedication to the animal rights cause. Last year she traveled to Taiji, Japan as a Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian to report on and document the atrocities of the dolphin drives. Simone has been featured extensively in print, radio and television media using her image and voice to inspire, motivate, mobilize and guide people who care about the treatment of animals but don’t know where to begin to create real change for them.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.*
(*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

The University of Otago’s plan for a $50 million animal research centre is cruel, outdated and scientifically questionable.

Thu 19 May 2016ODT: Pain and death for naught
OPINION The University of Otago is proposing to build a five-storey facility on campus by February 2018. Deputy vice-chancellor for research and enterprise Prof Richard Blaikie hopes the investment will attract people to study at Otago. However, he is likely to be disappointed.

A little problem at U of O, lol —PM tanked/stiffed, over-reached themselves…. sweet karma, comes after the university STUPIDLY cut out local construction firms in the tender processes

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Sun, 5 Jun 2016ODT: Top projects on track but others fall behind
Work on several multimillion-dollar building projects at the University of Otago has ground to a halt or fallen behind schedule. Higher-than-anticipated costs, asbestos and structural issues are among the problems affecting some university construction projects.

The ODT graphic is a stunning epitaph to all “the lads” at University Council and Property Services. Oi Oi !

Poor project management….
Why are we not surprised given previous news via ODT.

[I’m waking early to the sounds of heavy demolition each day – hate to think what the upstairs flats along George St are having to put up with – bet the university has provided no compensation to the householders or landlords]

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Fri, 10 Jun 2016ODT: Demolition disrupts dental care
More than 500 patients receiving treatment at the University of Otago School of Dentistry have had appointments cancelled or rescheduled because of demolition work within the building. A university spokeswoman said the School of Dentistry decided to cancel clinics because 19 toilets had been closed during demolition.

Tonight the heavy demolition is continuing as I type, the right side block in the photos is currently being demolished – have more close up photos and three videos taken from an alley looking out on the scene.

Have phoned DCC Noise and will check with City Planning what the conditions of consent are for night work. The site backs onto residential apartments above shop level – has permission to operate after dark been sought in writing from affected landlords and tenants ?

Armourguard has phoned to say the Dental School demolition is running behind schedule, thus why they will be working all night at the site, and there is muttering that only some residents were informed about the night work. How interesting – of the sainted university and its current project managers, who haven’t quite identified or covered the swathe of affected parties as you would expect, given the City Rise on a still night such as this.

City Planning has confirmed that a number of excessive noise complaints from local residents were received last night during demoliti9n of the Dental School lift tower, and the demolition was shut down accordingly. This occurred before midnight.

No consent conditions are required for the demolition, however City Planning have informed the project managers of the standards they are required to comply with, and I will receive a copy of this letter today.

Work on the lift tower had to happen after business hours due to safety considerations for users of the building. However this does not mean the demolition activity on a commercial site can create a nuisance to surrounding residents. DCC’s Ros MacGill (Environmental Health) is handling the noise issues.

The 1961 modernist building is a category 1 historic place. The heritage-listed glass curtain facade will be replaced with a replica, and the north-facing mosaic wall will be strengthened.

Tue, 14 Jun 2016ODT: Dental school’s heritage retained
The first artist’s impressions of the new University of Otago School of Dentistry reveal aspects of the modernist Walsh Building will be retained in the $12 6million project. […] A University of Otago spokeswoman said Heritage New Zealand would work closely with heritage specialist Salmond-Reed to ensure the building’s historic listing was not compromised. The west wing of the Walsh Building was being demolished to create room for a new 8000sq m clinical services building, she said.

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Artist’s impression of the new School of Dentistry building. [Jasmax Architects]

University of Otago
Otago Bulletin Board Thu, 9 June 2016Dental School project progresses at pace
Appointing a main contractor for the construction of Otago’s new School of Dentistry will include evaluating the company’s “innovation and consideration” for the school’s existing activities throughout the project.
The School provides the only dental training in New Zealand, and treats patients from the community as part of that training.
Associate Dean, Capital Build, Don Schwass says minimising disruption is a very high priority, “but the practicality of expensive multi-million dollar building contracts — with performance penalties — prevents all disruption being avoided.”Read more + Images

Article about the time-lapse web-cam at Dentistry here.
A time-lapse camera is recording the largest capital redevelopment the University has ever undertaken. From its spot on top of Zoology’s Marples Building in Great King Street, the camera has been snapping the site of the $126 million project since early February, by taking a photo every minute. Those images can already be seen refreshing every 10 seconds on the University web site, in the Property Services and Dentistry sections.

WHAT was City Planning thinking…. after all, this section of the proposed 2GP directly contradicts the Dunedin Economic Development Strategy (2013 – 2023), established by the Grow Dunedin Partnership (partners to the strategy include University of Otago and DCC…….). Larks.

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Fri, 23 Sep 2016Uni link with hospital retained
A Dunedin City Council planner has bowed to pressure from the University of Otago amid concerns new planning rules could damage its relationship with the hospital. The university also made it clear during this week’s Second Generation Dunedin City District Plan (2GP) hearings it was worried the proposed plan would limit its growth ambitions by restricting its flexibility to house shops and business spin-offs in the campus area.
In evidence provided to the hearing, university vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said with low growth in student numbers, commercialising the university’s research and linking with businesses was an increasingly important part of its growth strategy.

### channel39.co.nz Mon, 10 Oct 2016 at 7:44 pmUni starts $17m building fix
A $17m redevelopment of the University of Otago’s commerce building is getting under way. The university finally decided to fix the building last October, following almost 100 complaints. At least a dozen people have been seriously injured as a result of accidents in the building’s atrium. Work making the 25-year-old facility safer is expected to take a year. The current roof, which isn’t watertight, will be replaced. More modern learning environments will also be developed. Some classes are being relocated but staff will remain in the building throughout.Ch39 Link

How bizarre is it, that an insanely dangerous floor that has caused injury after injury year in year out should have been left to maim for so long! And at the same time things that can injure only when used carelessly are elaborately, expensively, mandatorily, idiot-proofed.

Sat, 22 Oct 2016ODT: Uni plans $15m music facilty
The University of Otago is planning to build a $15 million recording studio and music production facility, mothballing its present Albany St building. […] Chief operating officer Stephen Willis said the $15 million figure covered everything from scoping the project to design, construction, fit-out, equipment, and moving staff from half-a-dozen locations around the campus to the University of Otago’s College of Education campus.

Thu, 10 Nov 2016ODT: Facelift for Registry Building
The University of Otago’s Registry Building and its distinctive clocktower are about to get a facelift. The bluestone and Oamaru stone facings would be re-pointed and the window frames repainted during the summer break.

Thu, 29 Dec 2016ODT: New facade, name for uni building [photo]
An ageing University of Otago building is showing its new skin as a multimillion-dollar upgrade brings it into the 21st century. The removal of the scaffolding comes as the $56million redevelopment of the university’s chemistry building, in Cumberland St, is about to hit a major milestone. Staff and students will move into the western half in about a month. It also revealed the new exterior of the more than 45-year-old building as well as its new name, Mellor Laboratories. Cont/

Come to Otago Uni, fun, friends, parties and buildings to appeal to every taste. Heritage, reno, new? Rugby! Real close to the Fubar Stadium! Also several academic courses still provided, funds permitting*
*The university reserves the right to reduce staff and whole departments without notice from time to time.

Looks like a new American suburban fire station, not in a good way. And believe me, I love American contemporary fire station design.

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Thu, 12 Jan 2017ODT: Dunedin study home nearly ready
Work is nearing completion on the $2.6 million home for the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. Cook Brothers Construction was awarded the contract, and last June work began on the University of Otago building, at the corner of Union St and Anzac Ave. Cont/

Tue, 11 Apr 2017ODT: Directing campus development plan
By John Gibb
Experienced project manager David Perry yesterday began a major new role as the university’s campus development director. In his new role, Mr Perry, who grew up in Dunedin, will be responsible for delivering buildings in the university’s $650million building programme. […] Mr Perry, who has already spent 10 months as temporary manager of the university’s capital projects unit, said the new job was providing a rare opportunity for him. Among his previous roles was as quantity surveyor for Hallam-Eames and Partners, now Rawlinsons, and his previous projects included extensions to the university’s School of Dentistry. Cont/

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ASIDE
Woops. News from a little while back. Slight problem with ground conditions affecting the founds of the dental school development…. expensive. Someone not on top of this.

Poor ol’ trudging UoO project management, it can’t win.

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In better news for Dental treatment –

Mon, 10 Apr 2017University of Otago project aims to re-grow teeth
It could one day be possible for humans to grow new teeth thanks to research being carried out at the University of Otago. Researcher Dr Azam Ali’s “No drill, no fill” project aims to develop a biometric system that could potentially trigger remineralisation and regrowth of dental tissues. He aimed to create new treatment options for the prevention and restoration of tooth decay, a major public health concern nationally and internationally. “We are planning to develop biomaterials which will be very, very compatible with dental tissue and offer a biological function,” he said. “The biomaterials will mimic the cells and regenerate and produce new dental tissue.” Cont/

Note, according to ODT, the plan for a humanities precinct is part of the university’s priority development plan, estimated to cost $650million. The arts building, built in 1969, is a rectangular six-storey building with a lecture theatre block attached to the west side.